nz2

The body design forward of the cab looks so different to other trucks of that period. The bonnet and radiator surround area looks so similar in pattern to a new Volvo truck. Does this mean the Leyland engineers were so far ahead with design that the rest of the world took 50 years to follow! The tyre size is also noticeably large. Availability a problem but being military, price would not necessarily intervene, Could they be industrial tyres like on a loader etc, as if speed was not the issue rather than weight. Does any one have the specs on these; Motor etc? Doug:writing:

image appears to be from the USA so lets try... " What war. Oh, that bit in Europe. It doesn't effect us here... never will"

Pleasant mechanical sounds to the ear: Not in order; Merlin 12V 71 Detroit under load Holder HD3 2 stroke diesel tractor on load A well balanced steam engine ticking over (Traction or roller) Ferrari 3 litre V12 1960's A long time restoration project finally going; Splut, splut, miss, miss, bang, and a cloud of smoke! Doug

Or lets arm it and refer to it as a Home Guard mobile defence carriage.:nut: Doug

Well said. Its folk like you we appreciate. Funny that, my wallet always seems empty too! Doug

I have recently picked up another project for restoration. This one I can use when I get old and infirm!:idea: Manufactured by Harding probably late 1940's. Battery electric drive. I recall see only a few of these as a lad, being operated by Ex servicemen. Doug

In New Zealand I know of one tour at Rotorua. http://www.rotoruaducktours.co.nz/Rotorua_Duck_Tours_Ltd/DUKW_History_IDL=1_IDT=2099_ID=12422_.html Doug

I salute you sir. Your comments are taken and I agree with the points you have raised. Like in any society it only takes a few to give a different perception of a wider society's standing. In this case we ( in NZ) have had a number of visitors from Britain to whom the cheque book ruled and with it an attitude of only they are correct, or they know best. Yet others are polite, helpful and interested to see what goes on here. Spending time with them is a pleasant experience. I was not aware of the Kiwi Indian Motorcycle Co however see it is based in California. An ex Kiwi owner So many Kiwis are operating companies all over the world. To those who wish to view a restoration and new constuction operation; check out Vintage Aviator.co.nz . Building of as new WW1 aircraft, including engines. That is a NZ company. I realise this website is British based and therefore the dominance of following will be British. For a colonial to be critical of some British my seem unjustified, but then it was unfortunate the comments were made towards the apparent lack of restoration undertaken in Australia. I simply wished to correct this. Yes it would be nice to get more photos on to the forum of military vehicles in NZ . The number of military rallies here are very few, then again those of us restoring WW1 vehicles I can count on one hand. WW2 collectors are far more common. The important thread here is we all have a common interest, restoring military vehicles of all descriptions. In many ways I'm thankful to be rebuilding items here in NZ without the hassle of the bureaucratic jungle you have to endure. Doug

Or have children who also start collecting, Then another item is offered but on getting it home find its a slightly different to the one here. A different year, with those changes and different parts, Doug

One can say the same influence occurs in this country as to people having a relationship towards a vehicle. As to car and trucks they were assembled in this country from the crates of parts set out (CKD) A common export method about the world that used local labour and some local components. Yes like you, go to a rally or event and the response is the same; My father, uncle etc had one of those, drove one like that, repaired then, sold them,or whatever. Personal contact and stories flow. The local link is strong. There are a wide range of vehicle restorers in NZ from commercial firms to the at home enthusiast. Like in any country the amount of time or money spent will be reflected in the finished product. In my travels about the country I have visited people manufacturing a variety of vintage replacement parts, some even for export to the UK. A top end example is the manufacture of crankshafts for vintage Rolls Royces. Quality management is the key. Kiwis can do it!! Doug

It is pleasing to see the comments supporting collectors and collections on this side of the world. Unfortunately many folk also are of the opinion that restoration work can only be undertaken in the UK. Our ancestry is British and with the people who migrated here came the engineers, and as such continued their professions here. Over the subsequent generations the standard has continued. Kiwis can restore items! Perhaps this whole issue needs a new thread topic Images are shown by members of the forum of vehicles about the world, but little is covered of collections else where in the world. There must collections in South America, Africa, and Eastern Europe. Perhaps this whole issue needs a new thread topic as well

The biggest lost in recent times was to the Chinese as scrap. Again the dollar won as the value of scrap rose. Truck loads of tractors, trucks and all sorts of machinery went past home here heading for the scrap merchants and off to China. Some horror stories are told of collectable material being scrapped. No dought the same else where in the world Doug

When people ask me why I reply; What you collect is directly proportional to the space available. My son and I have 12 acres, however it still has to operate as an orchard. Space away from fruit trees is limited. Time and money to complete jobs is a problem. Plan to be reincarnated, but then may come back as a cat or something else!

The Australian Government set in place a few years ago legislation further restricting the export of heritage items. Similar laws have now also been upgraded in New Zealand. I understand there are a number of cases pending prosecution where items exported under the previous legislation were falsely documented for export.The outcome is expected that those items to be returned to country of origin. Is was the monetary gain that motivated people into trading internationally in heritage items. Doug

Why do you Poms also want to buy every thing up and send it home!! There are collectors in other parts of the world who do enjoy restoring items of their interest. Aussie is a great place to find people with vast collections of material they have collected up from often considerable distances. The dry climate away from the coast also helps to maintain steel in good condition. My comments may seem harsh but unfortunately the perception is that so many English cannot see vintage collections establish outside from their own country. PS the two steam engines are portables Doug

A Merlin sounds so great at a fly past. On the land the 12V71 of a Detroit Diesel under power has an amassing effect on the human body. That is even with some silencers fitted. Detroit Diesels were regularly used here in New Zealand as truck engines. Mainly six cylinder blocks, with some eights. Both as in line or as a V configuration. A standard factory option here for the Scammell Crusader was Detroit Diesel delivered new. Also about in American made machinery. Last year a 12V71 was rebuilt at a local workshop being overhauled from a logging winching unit. At the trial fire up the sound was heard easily a kilometre away or two! Like wise much of the army vehicles of the NZ Defence Force , in common with the Australia Army, was Detroit powered, for that period.( 1970-80's) Detroit Diesels are now becoming collectable items in their own right. " A GM Diesel is the way to turn diesel fuel to noise." Doug

Does any know of a contact for Denis Bishop to clarify the origin of the drawing. Doug

Interesting story line to this truck. We were told of this White about twelve years ago. Others then said it had gone so didn't spend time following it through any further. Fellow collector Mike heard of it recently and on his second day of searching the area came across it. Chassis condition is reported to be very thin and moving it as a unit will be an interesting experience. Also the access track in has slipped away. Lets see what the next few months to summer brings! Doug

Should any one get the chance to crawl under one of these Thornycroft AA gun carriers please look carefully at the type of chassis cross members above the rear axle. An illustration in the book Military Transport of WW1; C. Ellis and D. Bishop; Blandford Press, 1970; shows the two raised pipe cross members. Were these pipes used solely for mounting the gun, or did they have other load carring uses as well? Did the illustator for this book copy this from an eariler plan or was this from an existing vehicle? All other Thornycroft J chassis I have seen, and seen photos of, have traditionial steel plate cross members. That is aside from one chassis I have here that has raised pipe cross members. If it was built for carring a AA gun then I've another search to locate a gun! Doug

Transporting problems are not just confind to the U.K. Here on the other side of the world we are faced with the same costs and problems in moving larger vintage items. I note from the threads to date there has been no mention of the advantage in using dedicated transport from a security aspect. Load up and take it home, with no stop overs in insecure yards and unwanted attention from vandals or the like. ( Yes there are about here too!) A backload may not be diect and involve the item been off loaded then reloaded latter to complete the journey. This in itself produces another issue of damage occuring during this proceedure. Having ones own truck avoids this problem but as has been pointed out ,lack of use with it just sitting idle does not help it in other ways. Attitudes of inspecting offices at vehicle testing plays a important part. Some are interested in seeing older vehicles maintained and used, and are aware it is only infrequently used, where as other inspectors have no interest in old iron. To clarify my postion the truck used is a J series Bedford, repowered to diesel and used to cart about our vintage tractors to shows. Also to collect items coming in for restoration ( WW1 period). As well as used for transporting at times produce from our orchard operation. Total distance per year is still low at about 3000 km. It's conveniate to have it and use it at our choice in time, but that has its cost. Doug

There is a Rolls Royce armoured car In the South Island of New Zealand and seen at vintage air displays along with a collection of WW1 aircraft. The body of the Rolls is a replica. Doug

The 4 wheel drive chassis on the back appears to be a Nash Quad/ Jeffery Quad. The complete truck appears to be an American B class Liberty truck. Choose your own American manufacturer; Selden, Pierce Arrow, etc as its a common set of plans. Doug

Great photos. The Thornycroft bearing cap is an unusual design. A lot flatter in shape and with the concaved ring also. This is quiet different to the versions of caps I've seen. Tim, was there a chassis number on the dumb irons? have you seen the pattern of bearing cap before? Tyres look OK Doug

Tim, Do you have any more photos of these wheels showing the hub and spoke pattern. Any idea of the wood type used? Have to assume he already had the rims and hubs available. The mould also in the photo is interesting. Assume used for the shaping the tyres, and not as a jig for the spokes. Always a problem restoring heavier trucks is the wooden wheels. Those who rebuild wooden wheels for vintage cars here( NZ) are not interested in heavy weight spokes. That's a project for another day Doug

I have the second book listed, but as you say it still leaves questions. There has been some articles in the Journal of the Road Loco Society covering the period of early paraffin type gun tractors. I will search for a copy of the other two listed books Thanks :coffee:Doug